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Verzenios ® ▼ (abemaciclib)
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What are the most frequent adverse events associated with Verzenios® (abemaciclib) in metastatic breast cancer?
The most commonly occurring adverse reactions are diarrhoea, infections, neutropenia, anaemia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite.
Detailed Information
Abemaciclib in Combination With Nonsteroidal Aromatase Inhibitor (NSAI) (MONARCH 3)
Adverse reactions in MONARCH 3 are presented in Adverse Reactions in the MONARCH 3 Safety Population (abemaciclib+anastrozole or letrozole, n=327; placebo+anastrozole or letrozole, n=161) . Serious adverse events were reported in 27.5% of patients in the abemaciclib plus anastrozole or letrozole arm, compared to 14.9% of patients in the placebo arm. The most frequently reported serious adverse event was lung infection, which occurred in 2.8% of patients in the abemaciclib arm and zero in the placebo arm.1
All grade adverse reactions reported (≥20%) in the abemaciclib arm and ≥2% than the placebo arm |
Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients |
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Abbreviation: ALT = alanine aminotransferase.
Deaths due to AEs were reported in 11 patients in the abemaciclib arm and included
- lung infection (n=4)
- embolism (n=2)
- respiratory failure (n=2)
- cerebral ischemia (n=1)
- cerebrovascular accident (n=1), and
- pneumonitis (n=1).1,4
Deaths due to AEs were reported in 2 patients in the placebo arm and included
Abemaciclib in Combination With Fulvestrant (MONARCH 2)
Adverse reactions in MONARCH 2 are presented in Adverse Reactions in the MONARCH 2 Safety Population (abemaciclib+fulvestrant, n=441; placebo+fulvestrant, n=223). Serious adverse events were reported in 22% of patients in the abemaciclib arm and 11% of patients in the placebo arm.5
All grade adverse reactions reported (≥20%) in the abemaciclib arm and ≥2% than the placebo arm |
Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients |
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Deaths during treatment or during the 30-day follow-up were reported in
- 18 patients (4%) in the abemaciclib arm, and
- 10 patients (5%) in the placebo arm.2
Deaths due to AEs were reported in
- 9 patients in the abemaciclib arm, and
- 2 patients in the placebo arm.5
Deaths deemed by the investigators to be related to abemaciclib treatment were reported in
- 2 patients with sepsis in whom guidance regarding granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration and dose reduction was not followed, and
- 1 patient with viral pneumonia receiving steroids for spinal stenosis.5
Of the 18 reported deaths in patients in the abemaciclib plus fulvestrant arm, 2 (0.5%) were due to pneumonitis.2
Neutropenia
Neutropenia was reported frequently (45.1%). and a Grade 3 or 4 decrease in neutrophil counts (based on laboratory findings) was reported in 28.2% of patients receiving abemaciclib in combination with aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant. The median time to onset of Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was 29 to 33 days, and median time to resolution was 11 to 15 days. Febrile neutropenia was reported in 0.9% patients. Dose modification is recommended for patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia.6
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea was the most commonly reported adverse reaction. Incidence was greatest during the first month of abemaciclib treatment and was lower subsequently. The median time to onset of the first diarrhoea event was approximately 6 to 8 days across studies, and the median duration of diarrhoea was 9 to 12 days (Grade 2) and 6 to 8 days (Grade 3) across studies. Diarrhoea returned to baseline or lesser grade with supportive treatment such as loperamide and/or dose adjustment.6
Increased Aminotransferases
In patients receiving abemaciclib in combination with aromatase inhibitors or fulvestrant, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevations were reported frequently (15.1% and 14.2%, respectively).6
Grade 3 or 4 ALT or AST elevations (based on laboratory findings) were reported in 6.1% and 4.2% patients. The median time to onset of Grade 3 or 4 ALT elevation was 57 to 61 days, and median time to resolution was 14 days. The median time to onset of Grade 3 or 4 AST elevation was 71 to 185 days, and median time to resolution was 13 to 15 days.6
Dose modification is recommended for patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 ALT or AST increase.6
Increases in Serum Creatinine
Although not an adverse reaction, abemaciclib has been shown to increase serum creatinine in
- 98.3% of patients (based on laboratory findings),
- 1.9% Grade 3 or 4 (based on laboratory findings).6
In patients receiving an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant alone, 78.4% reported an increase in serum creatinine (all laboratory grades).6
Abemaciclib has been shown to increase serum creatinine due to inhibition of renal tubular secretion transporters without affecting glomerular function (as measured by iohexol clearance).6
In clinical studies, increases in serum creatinine occurred
- within the first month of abemaciclib dosing,
- remained elevated but stable through the treatment period,
- were reversible upon treatment discontinuation,
and were not accompanied by changes in markers of renal function, such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cystatin C, or calculated glomerular filtration rate based on cystatin C.6
References
1Goetz MP, Toi M, Campone M, et al. MONARCH 3: abemaciclib as initial therapy for advanced breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35(32):3638-3646. https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2017.75.6155
2Verzenio [package insert]. Indianapolis, IN: Eli Lilly and Company; 2021.
3Data on file, Eli Lilly and Company and/or one of its subsidiaries.
4Johnston S, Martin M, Di Leo A, et al. MONARCH 3 final PFS: a randomized study of abemaciclib as initial therapy for advanced breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer. 2019;5:5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41523-018-0097-z
5Sledge GW Jr, Toi M, Neven P, et al. MONARCH 2: abemaciclib in combination with fulvestrant in women with HR+/HER2− advanced breast cancer who had progressed while receiving endocrine therapy. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35(25):2875-2884. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2017.73.7585
6Verzenios [summary of product characteristics]. Eli Lilly Nederland B.V., The Netherlands.
Date of Last Review: 13 January 2022